Cleaning pad arrangement

ABSTRACT

A surface treatment pad arrangement for cleaning appliance includes first and second treatment pads with first and second surface-facing sides, respectively. The first and second surface-facing sides each may include at least one absorbent section and at least one scrubbing section. The absorbent section may be a shag material, and the scrubbing section may include olefin loops. The first and second pads may be connected to one another by one or more connectors.

FIELD

The invention relates generally to surface treatment such as carpet cleaning, and more specifically to a cleaning pad arrangement which is attachable to an appliance to clean a carpet.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

Surface treatment appliances are used in the home and office to clean and treat floors and other surfaces. Various types of surface treating appliances are known for cleaning carpets, including appliances with oscillating and rotating brushes.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a cleaning pad is disclosed. The cleaning pad includes a first pad section with a shag material having strands and loops and having a first absorbency, and second and third pad sections, each of which includes a scrubbing material having a second absorbency. The second absorbency is less than the first absorbency.

In one embodiment, a cleaning pad arrangement is disclosed. The cleaning pad includes first and second cleaning pads with first and second surface-facing sides configured to clean a surface, respectively, and at least one connector connecting the first and second pads. The first and second surface-facing sides each comprise at least one absorbent section and at least one glide portion.

In still another embodiment, a surface treatment appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes an appliance head having two moveable members which are moveable relative to one another, and first and second cleaning pads with first and second surface-facing sides configured to clean a surface, respectively. The first surface-facing side and the second surface-facing side each comprise an absorbent section and at least one glide portion.

In another embodiment, a cleaning pad is a disclosed. The pad includes a surface-facing side having a shag material section and a glide portion.

In another embodiment, a cleaning pad is disclosed. The pad includes a surface-facing side having a scrubbing section and a glide portion positioned laterally from the scrubbing section toward a shorter side of the cleaning pad.

In yet another embodiment, a cleaning pad is disclosed. The cleaning pad includes a non-absorbent scrubbing layer, a nonwoven or terry knit layer, and an attachment backing layer that includes hook and loop fastening material. The nonabsorbent scrubbing layer, the nonwoven or terry knit layer, and the attachment backing layer are sewn together in a cross stitching pattern.

It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect.

The foregoing and other aspects, embodiments, and features of the present teachings can be more fully understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface treatment appliance according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top of a cleaning pad arrangement according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad arrangement according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad arrangement according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad arrangement according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad arrangement according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad arrangement according to one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the cleaning pad arrangement of FIG. 6 taken along a longer side of a cleaning pad;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a portion of a pad according to one embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a cleaning pad arrangement taken along a longer side of a cleaning pad according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a cleaning pad arrangement taken along a longer side of a cleaning pad according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Surface treatment appliances, such as cleaning appliance which include reciprocating cleaning heads, are used to clean and treat floors and other surfaces in the home, office, and so on. Surface cleaning appliances with rotating and oscillating pads are also commonly used to clean low knap loop carpet in office environments, however the rotating and oscillating pads used with these appliances are built of moisture and dirt absorbing materials such as wool and/or polyester microfiber that must be cleaned at regular intervals for proper cleaning to be achieved. Applicant has recognized that a cleaning pad that absorbs little to no moisture and dirt is effective in cleaning carpets. Applicant has further recognized that various advantages may be realized by providing a cleaning pad with absorbent and/or scrubbing sections, including cleaning pads with one or more mini-shag material sections in combination with other material sections, including lower friction, glide sections.

According to one aspect of the invention, a cleaning pad arrangement includes first and second pads, each with a surface-facing side configured to clean a surface, the pads being connected by one or more connectors. In one embodiment, a first surface-facing side includes one or more absorbent sections and one or more scrubbing section and a second surface-facing side includes one or more absorbent sections and one or more scrubbing sections. The presence of scrubbing and absorbent sections on the surface-facing sides allows a user to clean a surface with both sections at the same time. Thus, a user does not necessarily have to switch pads or adjust the appliance to clean different surfaces or to effectuate different types of cleaning. In another embodiment, the first and second surface-facing sides each include one or more glide portions, such as glide strips, which facilitate movement of the appliance on the carpet. By limiting friction with the carpet or other surface, the glide strips not only ease movement of the pads, they also may reduce the likelihood that leading edges of the first and second pad will separate from the appliance while cleaning. In some embodiments, the absorbent section includes a shag material such as a mini-shag material, and the scrubbing section includes olefin loops. The shag material may provide scrubbing functionality in addition to absorbency. In some embodiments, the shag material is particularly effective in cleaning an upper layer of a carpet, for example the top 1 mm or top 2 mm of the carpet. A monofilament loop or line, such as olefin loops, may be particularly effective in cleaning a carpet to a depth of 2-4 mm.

According to another aspect of the invention, a pad includes one section with a shag material and two sections with scrubbing material. In one embodiment, the absorbency of the scrubbing material is less than the absorbency of the shag material. In some embodiments, the scrubbing material includes olefin loops. In some embodiments, the pad includes one or more glide strips to reduce friction while cleaning a carpet. The absorbent section is positioned in the middle of the pad with scrubbing sections adjacent to the absorbent section and glide strips adjacent to the scrubbing section in some embodiments. This configuration provides agitation for penetration of a cleaning solution into the carpet while allowing for ease of movement of the appliance across the floor while cleaning. In addition, the placement of the scrubbing sections adjacent to the absorbent sections allows the scrubbing section to lift up any stuck soils and heavier dirt while allowing the absorbent section to pick up any lose debris and/or liquid. In one embodiment, the shag section, the scrubbing sections and the glide strips are positioned such that they are perpendicular an edge of a longer side of the pad. In another embodiment, the absorbent section, the scrubbing sections, and the glide strips are all positioned parallel to an edge of a shorter side of the pad.

According to another aspect of the invention, a surface treatment appliance includes an appliance head with two moveable members and two cleaning pads, where each pad has a surface-facing side configured to clean a surface. In one embodiment, each of the surface-facing sides has an absorbent section and a scrubbing section.

FIG. 1 shows a surface treatment appliance 2 according to one embodiment, the appliance including an elongated appliance body 4 and an appliance head 6, such as a cleaning head. The appliance head includes two moveable members 8 to which the cleaning pad arrangement 10 is removably attachable by an attachment side 12. The moveable members 8 may be used to provide reciprocating motion, and in some embodiments, the moveable members may move toward and away from one another. The reciprocating motion produced by the appliance 2 shown is a linearly reciprocating motion in some embodiments. The appliance 2 also includes a liquid reservoir 13 on the appliance body 4 that communicates with a liquid applicator 15 on the appliance head 6 to apply a treatment or cleaning solution to a surface. Although the liquid applicator 15 is shown on only the front of the appliance head 6 in this embodiment, one or more applicators 15 may be positioned on the sides of the appliance head 6 as well as the back of the appliance head 6 so as to allow multi-directional use of the appliance 2. In some embodiments, the applicators 15 are positioned on the appliance body 4 or on an underside of the appliance head 6.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the pad arrangement 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which includes a first cleaning pad 14 with an attachment side 12 a, a second cleaning pad 16 with an attachment side 12 b, and one or more connectors 18 that connect the first cleaning pad 14 to the second cleaning pad 16. In this embodiment, the connectors are attached to the attachment side 12 of the first and second pads 14, 16.

The attachment sides 12 a, 12 b are configured to removably attach the pads 14, 16 to the appliance head 6 in some embodiments. The attachment sides may include a hook and loop fastening material, which attaches to complementary hook and loop fastening material on the appliance head 6. The attachment sides 12 a, 12 b instead may include any other suitable material for attaching the pads 14, 16 to the appliance head 6 as this aspect of the disclosure is not limiting. In some embodiments, the pad arrangement and the moveable members may be configured such that the pad arrangement wraps around the sides of the moveable members for attachment. Fastening devices such as clips, screws, snaps or interference fit arrangements may be used to removably attach the pads to the moveable members such that the attachment sides 12 a, 12 b are removably attached to the moveable members 8 even though, in some cases, the attachment sides 12 a, 12 b themselves do not play a direct role in their attachment to the moveable members 8.

Though the pads 14, 16 shown in this embodiment are rectangular, it should be appreciated that first and second pads 14, 16 may be any suitable shape. The first pad 14 and the second pad 16 also may be different sizes from one another, though they are shown to be the same size in the illustrated embodiment. It should also be appreciated that the first and second pads 14, 16 need not be connected even though the pads 14, 16 are shown connected by connectors 18 in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows the bottom of the cleaning pad arrangement 10, which includes the first cleaning pad 14 with a first surface-facing side 20 a, the second cleaning pad 16 with a second surface-facing side 20 b, and connectors 18. The surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b may include any of a number of types of materials for cleaning a variety of surfaces. In one embodiment, the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b are configured to clean a carpet, in which a cleaning element (such as a solution including cleaning agents) is applied to a carpet and then agitated and/or absorbed by the pad arrangement 10. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in FIG. 3, the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b include only scrubbing sections 22 to agitate the cleaning element. In some embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b and the attachment side 12 of the pad arrangement 10 include the same material. In one embodiment, the sides 12, 20 a, 20 b all include scrubbing section 22, e.g., a hook and loop fastener or any other abrasive material that is suitable for attachment and for agitation.

In other embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b include scrubbing sections 22 and absorbent sections 24. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the scrubbing section 22 is placed in the center of each surface-facing side 20 a, 20 b and the absorbent sections 24 surround the scrubbing section 22 on two sides. In some embodiments, the scrubbing section can be olefin and in other embodiments the scrubbing section 22 can be a mini-shag material. Of course, in some embodiments, a mini-shag material section and an olefin or other monofilament loop section may be provided.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b have glide strips 26 that surround the scrubbing section 22 on two sides. The absorbent sections 24 also may be positioned in the middle of the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b with scrubbing sections 22 surrounding the absorbent section 24 on at least two sides. As shown in FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the absorbent section 24 is in the middle of each surface-facing side 20 a, 20 b, scrubbing sections 22 surrounding the absorbent section 24 on two sides, and glide strips 26 are positioned adjacent to the scrubbing sections 22. In some embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b have a section capable of both absorbing and scrubbing in the middle of the pad, with non-absorbent scrubbing sections 22 positioned adjacent to this absorbent scrubbing section, and glide strips adjacent to the scrubbing sections 22. In other embodiments, the first surface-facing side 20 a may include only absorbent sections 24 while the second surface-facing side 20 b includes only scrubbing sections 22.

In some embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b include a glide portion to reduce friction while cleaning the carpet. For purposes herein, a glide portion is a portion of the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b which has a lower coefficient of friction than one or both of an absorbent section 24 and a scrubbing section 22. One type of glide portion is a glide strip 26, as shown in FIG. 7. For purposes herein, the term “glide strip” refers to a section on a surface-facing side of a pad which extends from near one edge of the pad to near an opposite edge. The glide strip does not necessarily have to reach the absolute edge of the pad to be considered a glide strip. For example, in some embodiments disclosed herein, glide strips extend only to a binding which runs along the perimeter of the pad. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the first surface-facing side 20 a includes an absorbent section 24 surrounded by glide strips 26 on two sides and the second surface-facing side 20 b includes a scrubbing section 22 surrounded by glide strips 26 on two sides. It should be appreciated that the number and position of the scrubbing sections 22 and the absorbent sections 24 in these embodiments may vary, as this disclosure is not limiting. It also should be appreciated that although two glide strips 26 are shown in these embodiments, one glide strip 26 or more than two glide strips 26 may be used in other embodiments. Also, although the glide strips 26 are shown adjacent to a binding 28 that extends along the perimeter of a shorter side 30 of the pads 14, 16, the glide strips may be placed adjacent to the binding 28 that extends along the perimeter of a longer side 32 of the pads 14, 16 or in any other suitable location to reduce friction while cleaning a carpet. It should further be appreciated that while the glide portions are shown to be rectangular glide strips, the glide portions may be any suitable shape.

For each of the pad arrangements 10 shown in FIGS. 2-7, the scrubbing sections 22 may include a non-absorbent material. In some embodiments, the scrubbing sections 22 include a monofilament loops. In one embodiment, the scrubbing sections 22 include olefin, and in another embodiment, the scrubbing sections 22 include a plastic material. In one embodiment, the olefin is 100% olefin, 489.9 g/m², with 16.5 wales by 27.0 courses per inch. In some embodiments, the wales are parallel to an edge of the longer side 32 of each pad 14, 16. In other embodiments, the wales are parallel to the edge of the shorter side 30 of each pads 14, 16. In some embodiments, the olefin loops have a height O of at least 1 mm, 2 mm, or 4 mm. In some embodiments the olefin loops have a height of between 4 mm and 5 mm inclusive.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the pad arrangement in FIG. 6 along the longer side 32 of the pads 14, 16. The olefin loops may be configured to be parallel to the edge of the longer side 32 of the pads 14, 16, or parallel to the edge of the shorter side 30 of the pads 14, 16. In some embodiments, a mini-shag material with loops or twisted strands is used for scrubbing. In other embodiments, the scrubbing section 22 may include polyester, polypropylene, or any other material suitable for agitation as this disclosure is not limiting. In some embodiments, the scrubbing sections 22 may have a low coefficient of friction. In one embodiment, the scrubbing sections 22 are quilted. The scrubbing section 22 also may include any other suitable material for agitating a carpet, such as a material having a rake or teeth. In some embodiments, the scrubbing section 22 may include an abrasive sanding material such as sandpaper or a sanding pad.

The surface facing sides 20 a, 20 b include absorbent sections in some embodiments. The absorbent section 24 may include nylon loops, although absorbent sections 24 may be any other material suitable for absorption. In one embodiment, the absorbent sections 24 include a mini-shag material with a plurality of strands or loops having a pile length P, as shown in FIG. 8, of at least 5 mm. In some embodiments, the strands or loops have a pile length P of between 5 mm and 8 mm, or between 6 mm and 9 mm. In some embodiments, the strands or loops may have a pile length P of between 2 mm and 10 mm. In still further embodiments, the strands or loops may have a pile length P of between 1 mm and 15 mm. In one embodiment, the mini-shag material is 100% polyester, 15.45 oz/yd², with 20 wales by 26 courses per inch. In some embodiments, the mini-shag material is weft terry knit on a course gauge machine 8 to 14 gauge. In one embodiment, the mini-shag material is 100% microfiber polyester, 8 oz/yd². In some embodiments, the microfiber lengths are twisted together to form strands or loops. In one embodiment, the absorbent sections 24 include an absorbent material that has any suitable density, for example a density of between 0.01 grams per cm³ and 0.2 grams per cm³, though any other density may be used. In some embodiments, the absorbent sections 24 include a quilted absorbent material. The absorbent section 24 may also be a terry knit material, although other absorbent material may be used as this disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In some embodiments, the scrubbing sections 22 and/or the absorbent sections 24 are stitched or quilted to further connect layers of the pad to one another and/or to provide a material surface with slightly varying height. In some embodiments, the stitching may form a pattern. The quilting stiches may extend from the exterior edges of the first and second pads 14, 16 at a 30 degree angle, a 45 degree angle, a 60 degree angle, or any other suitable angle, in two directions to the opposed fabric edges. In one embodiment, the cross patterns form quadrilateral shapes or other polygon shapes. In some embodiments, the stitching limits or prevents a sliding of the pad layers relative to one another. Such sliding, if not limited, may reduce a pad's effectiveness at transmitting motion to the carpet.

In some embodiments, the absorbent sections 24 are separate from the scrubbing sections 22. For purposes herein, a separate section does not necessarily mean that a first section is distanced from a second section. Instead, separate sections, such as sections 22 and 24 in one embodiment, may be immediately adjacent to one another and be considered separate sections. In some embodiments two types of material overlap one another, but if each material has a portion that does not overlap with the material, there would still be considered to be two separate sections.

In some embodiments, a single material is configured for scrubbing and absorbing. Mini-shag is an example of a single material that may scrub and absorb. In some embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b include a mixture of a scrubbing material and an absorbent material in the same section. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, in some embodiments the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b include glide strips 26 to reduce friction while cleaning. The glide strips 26 may include polyester taffeta, 100 g/m² and 70 Denier yarn. In one embodiment, there are a series of linings below the taffeta. As seen in FIG. 9, in one embodiment, a polyester non-woven interlining layer 36, an olefin loop layer 38, a second polyester non-woven interlining layer 36, and a nylon loop backing layer 40 are positioned below a polyester taffeta layer 34. In some embodiments, the binding 28 is placed along the edge of the shorter and longer sides 30, 32 to bind the layers together. In one embodiment, the binding 28 is a twill material. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, a binding is not necessarily required to maintain pad integrity, as other pad construction methods may be used. In some embodiments, the glide strips 26 are quilted and/or have a low coefficient of friction. The coefficient of friction of the glide strips 26 is less than the coefficients of friction of the absorbent sections 24 and/or the scrubbing sections 22 in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the glide strips are positioned at a distance H higher than the scrubbing section 22 on the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b of the pad, as shown in FIG. 10. Of course, when the pad is turned over to be used on a floor surface the glide strips will be positioned lower than the scrubbing section. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the longer side 32 of the pad 14, 16. In one embodiment, the difference in height (H) is between 4 mm and 5 mm. In some embodiments, as illustrated by FIG. 10, there is a ratio R1 of the sum of the lengths GL1 of the glide strips 26 to a length SL of the scrubbing section 22 on the pad on the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b. For purposes herein, the “length of the glide strip” is defined as the length dimension of the glide strip along the longer side 32 of the pad and the “length of the scrubbing section” is defined as the dimension of the scrubbing section along the longer side 32 of the pad. In some embodiments, the ratio R1 is between 40% and 50%. In other embodiments, the ratio R1 is between 43% and 47%. In one embodiment, the ratio R1 is 46%. In embodiments having a mini-shag section 44, there is a ratio R2 of the lengths GL2 of the glide strips 26 to a length ML of the mini-shag section on the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b, as shown in FIG. 11, a sectional view of the pads 14, 16 along a longer side 32. In some embodiments, the ratio R2 is between 60% and 75%. In other embodiments, the ratio R2 is between 65% and 70%. In one embodiment, the ratio is 67%±1%.

In some embodiments, the mini-shag material may be configured such that when the pad is placed on a carpet for cleaning, the shag material is compressed such that the shag height is even with the height of the glide strip(s). In some embodiments, this configuration would result in the compressed mini-shag material being between 4 mm and 5 mm lower than the extent of the olefin or other non-absorbent scrubbing section(s).

In some embodiments, the pad arrangement 10 includes one or more connectors. The connectors 18 may be made of elastic straps, elastic cords, or any other suitable material for connecting the pads and maintaining their relative positions. The connectors 18 also may be made of any other suitable material for permitting the first and second pads 14, 16 to move relative to one another when attached to the moveable members 8. In some embodiments the elasticity of the connectors 18 is greater than the elasticity of the first and second pads 14, 16. The elasticity of the connectors 18 also may be configured such that the first and second pads 14, 16 can move relative to one another, irrespective of the positions of the moveable members 8, when the pad arrangement 10 is attached to the appliance head 6. In some embodiments, the connectors 18 may not necessarily pull the cleaning pads 14, 16 toward one another. For example, the connectors may be made of a non-elastic material such as string. In embodiments where the connector(s) do not include elastic material, the pad arrangement 10, and in particular the connector(s) 18, may be sized such that the arrangement 10 is sufficiently long to remain attached to the moveable members 8 when the moveable members 8 are in their outermost position on the appliance head 6. Although two connectors 18 are shown in FIGS. 2-7, in other embodiments one connector or more than two connectors may be used. In some embodiments, the connectors 18 may be made of the same material as the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b of the first and second cleaning pads 14, 16. The connector(s) 18 also may be integral to the first and second pads 14, 16.

The cleaning pad arrangement 10 also may include a tab 42, as shown in FIG. 6, that extends outwardly from either or both of the first and second pads 14, 16 to allow a user to remove the pad arrangement 10 from the appliance head 6. It should be appreciated that the tab 42 can be located on any of the exterior edges of the pad arrangement 10 and that the pad arrangement 10 can have more than one tab 42. In one embodiment, the tab 42 may be integrated as part of the pad itself. The pad arrangement 10 also may be oversized to provide an area on which a user can step. In such an embodiment, a portion of either or both of the first and second pad 14, 16 extends beyond the appliance head 6 to allow a user to remove the pad arrangement 10 from the appliance by grasping or stepping on the portion.

In some embodiments, the pads 14, 16 comprise a series of layers, include a scrubbing layer, such as a monofilament material, a nonwoven or terry knit layer, and an attachment backing layer with hook and look fastening material. In one embodiment, the scrubbing layer, the nonwoven or terry knit layer, and the attachment backing layer are sewn together in a cross pattern. In some embodiments, the stitch pattern forms quadrilateral shapes or other polygon shapes.

According to some embodiments, a method of cleaning a carpet with the appliance 2, includes placing the pad arrangement 10 on a carpet to be cleaned with the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b of each pad 14, 16 in contact with the carpet, and placing the cleaning head 6 on top of the attachment sides 12, 12 b of the pad arrangement 10. In one embodiment, the scrubbing sections 22 and the absorbent sections 24 on the surface-facing sides 20 a, 20 b clean the carpet at the same time.

In some embodiments, the pads and methods disclosed herein may be used in combination with a low moisture encapsulant to clean carpets.

While the present teachings have been described in conjunction with various embodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments or examples. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleaning pad comprising: a first pad section including a shag material with strands and/or loops, the first pad section having a first absorbency; a second pad section including a scrubbing material having a second absorbency; a third pad section including the scrubbing material having the second absorbency, the third pad section being distanced from the second pad section; wherein the second absorbency is less than the first absorbency.
 2. The cleaning pad of claim 1, wherein the shag material of the first pad section is different from the scrubbing material of the second and third pad sections.
 3. The cleaning pad of claim 1, wherein the scrubbing material comprises a non-absorbent material.
 4. The cleaning pad of claim 3, wherein the non-absorbent material comprises olefin loops.
 5. The cleaning pad of claim 4, wherein the olefin loops are at least 4 mm in length.
 6. The cleaning pad of claim 5, wherein the olefin loops are less than or equal to 5 mm in length.
 7. The cleaning pad of claim 4, wherein the shag material comprises pile at least 5 mm in length.
 8. The cleaning pad of claim 7, wherein the shag material comprises pile of less than 15 mm in length.
 9. The cleaning pad of claim 4, further comprising: a fourth pad section acting as a glide portion; and a fifth pad section acting as a glide portion; wherein each of the fourth and fifth pad sections include a material with a coefficient of friction less than the coefficients of friction of each of the first, second and third pad sections. 10-13. (canceled)
 14. The cleaning pad of claim 1, in combination with a second cleaning pad, connected by at least one elastic connector.
 15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the second cleaning pad comprises: the first pad section including a shag material having strands and/or loops; the second pad section including a scrubbing material; the third pad section including the scrubbing material; the fourth pad section acting as a glide portion; and the fifth pad section acting as a glide portion.
 16. A cleaning pad arrangement comprising: a first cleaning pad with a first surface-facing side configured to clean a surface; a second cleaning pad with a second surface-facing side configured to clean the surface; and at least one connector connecting the first cleaning pad to the second cleaning pad; wherein the first surface-facing side comprises at least one absorbent section and at least one glide portion; wherein the second surface-facing side comprises at least one absorbent section and at least one glide portion
 17. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 16, wherein: the first surface-facing side further comprises at least one scrubbing section which is separate from the at least one absorbent section; and the second surface-facing side further comprises at least one scrubbing section which is separate from the at least one absorbent section.
 18. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 17, wherein the at least one absorbent sections comprise a shag material having strands and/or loops.
 19. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 17, wherein the at least one scrubbing section comprises a non-absorbent material.
 20. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 19, wherein the non-absorbent material comprises comprise olefin loops.
 21. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 16, wherein the at least one connector comprises an elastic material.
 22. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 17, further comprising a backing layer including an attachment material to attach the pad to an appliance.
 23. A surface treatment appliance comprising: an appliance head having two moveable members which are moveable relative to one another; a first cleaning pad with a first surface-facing side configured to clean a surface; and a second cleaning pad with a second surface-facing side configured to clean a surface; wherein the first surface-facing side comprises an absorbent section and at least one glide portion; and wherein the second surface-facing side comprises an absorbent section and at least one glide portion.
 24. The surface treatment appliance of claim 23, wherein: the first surface-facing side further comprises a scrubbing section which is separate from the absorbent section; and the second surface-facing side further comprises a scrubbing section which is separate from the absorbent section.
 25. The surface treatment appliance of claim 24, wherein the first and second cleaning pads are connected to each other by at least one connector.
 26. The surface treatment appliance of claim 25, wherein the at least one connector comprises an elastic material. 27-51. (canceled) 